Health&Safety could be visiting you in new drive.
- 12 November 2008 07:519021DDC Release*****************
KENT LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND HSE LAUNCH JOINT INSPECTION CAMPAIGN
As part of a new flexible warranting initiative, inspectors from Local Authorities across Kent, including Dover District Council, are joining forces with the Health and Safety Executive on a series of visits to workplaces on industrial sites and other locations to assess standards of health and safety management.
The county-wide exercise begins today (10 November) and will run for three weeks, with visits in Dover District taking place week commencing 24 November. The inspections will focus on the assessment and control of risks associated with workplace transport, manual handling, slips and trips, work at height, and asbestos. Inspectors will be looking at how employers control risks to their own staff and others who may be affected, such as delivery drivers, office workers, contractors and members of the public.
Each stage of the initiative will be preceded by a mail shot to employers to forewarn that visits may take place, explaining the purpose, and providing the employer with an opportunity to review measures in place to protect the health and safety of employees, and others who may be affected.
The flexible warranting arrangements for HSE and Local Authority Inspectors across Kent were formally launched on 30 September 2008. All 13 Kent Authorities have dual warranted officers, currently making Kent the only county in the UK where all Authorities are actively engaged on joint inspections with HSE. Flexible warrants enable Inspectors from Local Authorities to inspect sites traditionally covered by HSE, and vice versa. It also allows officers to undertake inspections in neighbouring Authorities.
Further information on health and safety issues can be found on the DDC website at www.dover.gov.uk or on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk or by calling the HSE's Infoline on 0845 345 0055.
- ends -email: dover7@msn.com - 12 November 2008 09:079028B****y H&S fascists, thats just what a business needs in a recession with their back up against the wall, busybody interference.
- 12 November 2008 09:199029Barry
Surely even in a recession H&S at Work is still of paramount importance.I for one welcome it having witnessed the appalling conditions that people in the far east work under.20 storey buildings erected with only bamboo scaffolding to support the workers.No safety helmets,boots etc.And with more and more companies and firms being run by overseas owners who are introducing their work ethics into our workplace I think its about time there was a crackdown and a review of H&S in this country.
A recent example:
A Sri Lankan owner of a care home(which shall remain nameless) was informed that there was a serious leak in his roof which was permeating through 3 floors to the ground.His solution was to place a bucket under the leak.That bucket remained in situ for weeks despite constant reminders by staff.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 12 November 2008 09:439034Marek - I am not saying that aspects of H&S is unimportant to stamp out really bad abuses, but sadly they go much too far these days. Some insurance companies are also to blame making daft requirements, certainly, but there is simply a culture of wrapping people up in cotton wool these days, its all back watching.
I would not have a problem with this if it was just reponding to intelligence with targeted visits to eliminate real abuses, but this reads to me like a fishing trip and often to justify themselves they pick on petty issues. - 12 November 2008 09:489036Barry
A good point but like with so many issues in society if one started targetting various companies based on intelligence or suspicions then various branches of the legal profession would be crying victimisation or racism on behalf of their foreign clients.Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 12 November 2008 09:529039Marek, that juist shows what a mad world this has become. Agencies should be colour blind and do their job.
- 12 November 2008 11:599066
I wonder if the H & E remit runs to this situation. A truck hit this Lamp more than ONE YEAR ago and its still like this. To be fair it was hit by a second truck and the angle of lean increased even more alarmingly. This is the Marine Court carpark. Kids adults families walk underneath this thing not really noticing it. it is clealy waiting to fall on the unsuspected. But nothing done!
When it first happened the staff rushed out and put chairs around it and taped it off. But the wind came and blew the chairs away, along with the tape. Its almost funny. The angle of lean got worse but nobody returned with more chairs and tape.
It is a workplace so maybe something can be done. So H&E guys get stuck in before someone gets hurt. It also shows scant interest in general care as to how Dover's street furniture should look. Its ugly in other words.
In the words of that splendid George Formby song....
"The lampost is leaning at the corner of the street
for an unsuspecting kid to stroll by
oh me, oh my,
when will the little victim stroll by!!"
email: dover7@msn.com - 12 November 2008 12:429069Could this be a part of the Flexible Warranting Initiative, is it leaning to the left or the right? I suppose it depends on your perception.
On a serious note, it is ridiculous to be left this long, I hope H & E/Premier sort this out pretty quickly as this is part of a major hotel group, it is an accident waiting to happen.
